Portable derrick



March 16, 1943. R SELBERG 2,313,897

PORTABLE DERRICK E i-16d Jan. 30, 1941 4 Sheets-sheet 1 .FIG 1 1-H {5 12- [I l X; x 2 u FIG. 2. 5

gwum

Mack 16, 1943; p, SEL ERG 2,313,897

, PORTABLE Johnl lse l berg' J. P. SELBERG 2,313,897

PORTABLE DERRICK March 16, 1943.

Filed Jan. 30, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 50

FIGulQ.

FIG. 6.

John P. Selberg' u March 16-, 1943. P. SELBERG 4 Sheets-=Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 30, 1941;

11 1 P. Selberg Patented Mar. 16, 1943 PORTABLE DERRICK John P, Sclberg, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to International-Stacey Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 30, 1941, Serial No. 376,663

6 Claims. (Cl. 189-15) This invention relates to collapsible and portable derricks of the type employed in the oil producing industry for drilling test wells, pulling rods and tubing from previously drilled wells and performing other hoisting operations incidental to the working of oil wells.

One of the primary objects of this invention resides in the provision of a derrick structure which may be movable between upright and prone positions and collapsible to reduce the space required by the derrick during transportation.

Another object resides in providing a derrick having a pair of telescoping sections and providing one of the sections with wheeled supporting' means so located-that the derrick may be swung about theaxis of rotation of the wheels from an elevated or upright position to a horizontal or prone position in which it may be more readily transported from one well site to an other. r

A further object rests in the provision of a derrick having a sleeve-like lower section for the slidable reception of an upper derrick section, the lower derrick section having leg members movably secured thereto whereby the leg mmbers may 'be adjusted to increase the effective ground engaging area of the derrick and consequently the stability thereof, the adjustment of the leg members also serving to reduce.

the size of the derrick when set'for transportation. Another advantage achieved through the adjustment of the leg members is that of increasing the distance between the pivotal point of the derrick and the point where cables are attached when it is desired to raise the derrick from a prone to an upright position; this increased distance servingito increase the leverage and decrease the power required to move the derrick.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent by the following description and the accompanying drawings. 7

-In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewof one form of derrick embodying'the principles of the present invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a vertical. transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational'view showing the derrick in a partially elevated position;

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing .the derrick in an upright position, the sections thereof being in a telescoped condition;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the derrick in an upright position with the inner section extended for operation;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of the derrick shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of another form of the derrick showing the same in a collapsed and prone position ready for transportation;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing certain movable portions of the derrick adjusted to positions prior to raising the derrick to an upright position;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the modified form of derrick in a partially raised position;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the derrick in anupright position ready for operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates the derrick comprising the first form of the invention in its entirety. This derrick, as illustrated in Fig. 1, may be collapsed and disposed in a substantially horizontal position when it is set for transportation from one well site to another. When in position for transportation, one end of the derrick may be supported on a wheeled vehicle 2 such as a trailer or motor truck.

The derrick includes lower and upper sections 3 and 4, each having a plurality of longitudinal- 1y extending corner legs 5 formed from angle bars or similar structural members. The lower section includes a sleeve-like portion 6 which is formed from the corner legs and a plurality of diagonally extending brace members 1. The corner legs 5 of the lower derrick section extend downwardly from the sleeve member when the derrick is in an upright position, In the first form of the derrick illustrated, the corner legs are rigidly connected with the sleeve member and are held in fixed relation to one another by a plurality of longitudinally spaced girt members 8 and diagonally extending braces 9.

The upper and lower sections of the first form of derrick are substantially rigid, the lower section serving as a receptacle for the upper section when the derrick is collapsed to reduce its size for transportation purposes. One or more sides of the lower section has a plurality of supplemental leg members l9 which extend from the lower ends of a pair of corner legs to the central portion of the girt 8 at the lower end of the sleeve-like portion. This arrangement provides an elongated window opening H through which drill pipemay be inserted into the derrick when it is in operative position. The upper section also includes girts and braces 8 and 9 which serve to maintain the corner legs of this member in properly spaced relation. The upper end of the upper derrick section has converging members [2 which are connected by gusset plates IS, the latter members providing bearings for the reception of a transversely extending shaft [4. A plurality of sheave wheels [5 are journaled on the shaft l4, these sheaves forming the crown block of the derrick and receiving a cable means l6 which also passes around pulleys forming a part of a traveling block ll. The cable I6 may extend to any suitable type of draw works to effect the raising and lowering of the traveling block I l. The upper end of the upper section may also be provided with one or more pulleys I8 to receive other cables such as those employed to snub the derrick when it is being raised. Pulleys i8 also serve as idler pulleys to guide the wire lines running from the hoist up the outside of the derrick and over the pulleys When the derrick is to be transported, a wheeled dolly I9 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the lower section. Since the opposite end is supported on the truck bed 2, the derrick may be readily transported over highways. After the derrick has reached a new well site, the wheels 29 of the dolly are blocked and a line 2i is fastened to the lower section at a location disposed on the upper side of the derrick when it is in the position shown in Fig. 1. This cable is then wound on a power driven winch to shorten its efiective length and thereby impart pivotal movement to the derrick around the axisv of rotation of the wheels 20. Suitable snubb-ing lines may be used in connection with the pulleys l8 to prevent the derrick from continuing to move after it has reached the upright position shown in Fig. 4. When the derrick comes to rest in this position, the lower ends of the corner legs may be suitably secured to the ground or other foundation previously prepared to retain the derrick in its upright position. After these operations have been performed, the upper section may be elevated through cables passed around pulleys or any other suitable means to cause the upper section to assume the extended position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the lower portion of the upper section is disposed within the sleeve-like. portion of the lower section. The elevating means may be used to retain the derrick sections in this position until bolts or other suitable fastening means may be inserted to lock the derrick in operative position. I

After the well has been drilled or the derrick has otherwise served its purposes, it may be collapsed and swung to a prone position by reversing the foregoing procedure. The wheeled dolly is preferably removably secured to the derrick in order that it may be moved away from the derrick while the derrick is operatively positioned, then it may be returned to its proper position on the lower section prior to swinging the derrick to a prone position. The derrick is also pivoted around the axis of rotation of the wheels during the lowering operation.

One or more sides of both the upper and lower sections disposed at right angles to the side having the window opening ll may also be provided with smaller window openings 22, thesebeing provided for the reception of the pumping unit. The window is provided in the upper section since this section is disposed within the lower section when the derrick is moved from prone to upright positions. Sometimes the derrick is employed in wells which have previously been drilled and the pumping unit is already in place.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, the lower section of the derrick also includes the sleeve-like portion 6. Adjacent to the central portions of the girt members at opposite sides, there is provided pivot means 23 for the movable connection of leg members 24 with the sleeve-like portion. One or more leg members 24 may be so connected, depending upon the desires of the manufacturer. In the present illustration, two leg members are employed, both being pivotally connected. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the modified form of derrick includes the upper and lower sections, the upper section being telescopically received by the lower section when the derrick is set for transportation. The leg members 25 are moved into close proximity to the telescoped upper section, thus reducing the overall height of the device to enable it to pass under bridges or other overhead obstructions. After the derrick has been moved to a well site, the various portions of the derrick may be adjusted through jack means indicated at 25 to swing the leg members 2% about the pivots 23. Bolts or other fastening members 25a may be positioned in registering openings in the girt members at the adjoining ends of the legs and the sleeve-like portion 5 to retain the legs in positions of adjustment.

The jack means may be carried by the dolly 26 or suitable braces may be disposed between the dolly and the portions of the derrick elevated to brace the legs during the operation'of moving the derrick between prone and'upright positions. The dolly is rigidly attached to one side ofthe derrick so that the axis of rotation of the wheels may serve as the pivot for the derrick. When the legs have been spread to the position shown in Fig. 8, the raising line is attachedto the uppermost legs and tension applied to swing the derrick about the pivot formed by the dolly axle. When the derrick has reached its upright position and the legs are suitably secured to the foundation, the upper derrick section may be raised to its extended position in the same manner as in the first described form of the invention. Inboth forms, the sleeve-like portion of the lower section overlaps the lower portion of the upper section, thus producing a substantial structure which will be unafiected by relatively heavy loads and lateral forces result ing from high winds.

What is claimed is:

i. In a portable derrick of the type having upper and lower sections, a sleeve-like body forming a part of said lower section, leg means pivotally secured to said body for swinging movement into and out of parallel relation with the longitudinal axis of said body, said leg means serving to support said body in spaced relation from the ground when said derick is in an upright position, said upper section being telescopically received by said sleeve section, and a wheeled support detachably secured tosaid sleeve-supporting leg means, said derrick being movable about the axis of rotation of the wheels on said support between upright and prone positions; I

2. In .a portable derrick of the type having upper and lower sections, a sleeve-like body forming .a part of said lower section, said body .hav ing a longitudinally extend ng corner member, leg means pivotally secured to the lower endof said body, said leg means having longitudinally extending corner members in alignment with those of the body in one position of pivotal movement of said leg means and diverging therefrom in another position of pivotal adjustment, means for retaining said leg means in the latter position of adjustment, and means detachably connected with said leg" means, said means providing a pivotal suport about which said derrick may be pivotally moved between upright and prone positions, said body receiving the upper derrick section.

3. In a portable derrick, upper and lower sections having main corner legs and brace means connecting the same, said upper section being telescopically received by said lower section, up wardly converging brace means joined with the corner legs on corresponding sides of said sections to form inverted V-shaped windows which register when said sections are telescoped, and means for supporting said derrick in a prone condition for transportation, said means providing an axis about which said derrick may be moved between prone and upright positions, said registering windows permitting the corner legs on the side having the windows to straddle well operating equipment during raising and use of the derrick.

4. In a portabl derrick of the type having upper and lower sections, a substantially sleeve-like body having corner members and forming a part of said lower section, said upper section being telescopically received within said body, means for supporting said body in an elevated position comprising substantially wedge-shaped leg members, and means connecting said leg members at the wider ends thereof to said body for swinging movement about an axis extending transversely of said derrick between the corner legs of said body.

5. In a portable derrick of the type having upper and lower sections, a sleeve-like body forming a part of said lower section, wedge-shaped leg members pivotally connected to said body adjacent to the central portions of a pair oi opposed sides, said upper section being positioned in said body for movement from an extended position to a retracted position between said leg members, the mounting for said leg members providing for movement thereof toward and away from said upper section when in its retracted position, means carried by the leg members at one side to provide a horizontal axis about which said derrick may be moved between upright and prone positions, means for imparting movement to portions of said derrick to swing said lei, members away from said upper section, and means for maintaining the leg member in adjusted positions.

6. A derrick comprising a body composed of substantially Vertically extending corner members united rigidly by horizontally and diagonal- 1y disposed braces, and a pair of downwardly diverging leg members for eiiecting the support of said derrick when the latter occupies its active position, said leg members comprising symmetrical continuations of said derrick and having their upper ends jointedly connected with the lower portion of the derrick body for swinging movement relative thereto, whereby when the derrick is inactively positioned, said leg members may be adjusted toward each other to decrease the normal base area of the derrick.

JOHN P. SELBERG. 

